Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Salmo, BC.

My approach to anxiety and stress is rooted in Bio-psycho-social approaches that look at the whole person in a holistic manner. Helping clients learn how to soothe the nervous system is key. I work to help clients understand their unique triggers for stress and anxiety, and to practice interventions aimed at 'bottom-up' processing. Most clients arrive in counselling already having tried 'top down' processing-- or self-talk-- to shift stress and anxiety. What is most often missing is bottom-up, or body-based interventions such as breathing, grounding, exercise, EMDR, etc. I work with the client to discover which bottom-up processing tools work best for them.

Anxiety and stress are both extremely common in Western culture. Both of these things deal with an unregulated nervous system and a fight/flight mode that is overextended. In working with you, I will be able to help you get back in tune with your body, learn to regulate your nervous system, treat yourself with compassion and relieve stress. The more you are able to listen to the message your body is sending you, the less your body will feel the need to scream to be heard.

Anxiety falls along a continuum from acceptable to crippling, debilitating anxiety requiring professional intervention. The major forms that anxiety takes are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders, Social Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD). A variety of proven therapeutic interventions are well established now, eg., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Yoga, Tai Chi, Breathwork. By diving into therapy clients regain a sense of optimism, courage and confidence in relationships, workplace and career, driving, aging, life transitions and more.

While our bodies are perfectly designed to adapt and react to stress, modern problems mean that we tend to detect life threatening dangers in very ordinary places. Conflicts at work, arguments in our relationships and uncertainties such as the post-Covid world activate old survival mechanisms. We may be stuck in the buzzing, fear states of ‘fight-flight’ or the numb and paralyzed states of ‘freeze and shut down.’ The good news is that I have a long history of safely and successfully helping individuals and couples to reduce and release stress using a variety of CBT and mindfulness techniques, as well as trauma-informed therapy. You have my commitment to compassionate and educated care.

The last few years have been difficult. If you are experiencing anxiety or feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. Counselling is a great place to come and learn some skills for coping with anxieties, reduce stress, and become more present in your life. Whether your anxiety is specific, such as social anxiety or workplace anxiety, or more generalized, counselling can help.

While most treatment approaches for anxiety and stress are effective on the surface, they don’t treat the real problem. Mantras, deep breathing, and rational dialogues about your fear being irrational rarely work---for most people don’t believe it or you! Imagine if you can trick the brain into changing without you telling your conscious mind that you are changing it? Problem with anxiety and stress is that the brain in this state knows you want to change it and it resists. Contact Kevin@kevinfleminphd.com for the ultimate stress and anxiety solution that will literally change your brain's autonomic nervous system patterns while you sit on your butt. 877-606-6161.

I approach anxiety counseling with a professional and evidence-based methodology, ensuring that you receive the utmost quality of care. Drawing from a robust background in psychology, education, and therapy, I am well-prepared to navigate the intricacies of anxiety and its impact on your life. While anxiety is a natural response to stress, I recognize that, for some, it can become overwhelming and disruptive. It may manifest in various forms, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, or specific phobias. Together we will implement proved techniques to relieve you of the anxiety that is impacting your well-being.